Release device fob inflatable



July 28, 1936. .H. E HEIGIS RELEASE DEVICE FOR INFLATABLE FLOTATIONDEVICES Original'File'd June 28, 19:53

Hal/Rs 1 fiat/R: 2'.

INVENTOR' I HENRY ERNEJFHEIGIS ATTORNEY Reissued JuIy'ZS, 1 936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RELEASE DEVICE FOR INFLATABLE FLOTATION DEVICESHenry Ernest Heigis, West Orange, N. J., assignor' to Walter Kidde 8:Company, Inc., Bloomfield, N. 1., a corporation of New York Origlnal No.2,036,695, dated April 7, 1936, Serial No. 678,004, June 28, 1933.Application for reissue May 28, 1936, Serial No. 82,379 I 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally-to inflatable liie-preservers of thetype employing a cartridge containing highly compressed gas, such ascarbon dioxide, as the inflating medium, the life-preserver consistingessentially. of a chambered vest or the like, a compressed gascartridge, and novel means for holding the cartridge and for eflectingthe discharge of the compressed gasirom the cartridge into the chamberof the vest.

Among the more general objects of the invention is the provision of alife-preserver of the type referred, to which is of simple and durableconstruction, simple and eflicient in operation, and economical tomanufacture.

Amongthe more specific objects of the invention is the provision of alife-preserver oi the type referred to in which the compressed gascartridge is'easily replaced, in which it isimpossible to incorrectlyreplace the cartridge, in which leakage of the gas from the lii-epreserver is effectively prevented, and in which the means for efiectingthe discharge of the contents of the cartridge is operable from any oneof a plurality of directions. I

These, and other objects .of the invention, not specifically enumeratedabove, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detailin connection with the accompanying drawing.

wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a life-vest embodying the improvedcompressed gas, cartridge hold ng and discharge, effecting means of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view, showing the features oi.construction of the cartridge holding means and cartridge dischargeeiiecting means.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation correspondin to the showing of Figure 2.

Figure. 1 shows an inflatable lite-vest I ofrubberized fabric with acompressed gas cartridge assembled thereto and complete and ready foruse.- The vest itself is of standard construction and presentsnofeatures to be claimed herein.

Referring now to Figure 2, the reference numeral 2 represents acommercially procurable compressed gas cartridge having a rounded end 3and an end 4 formed with a neck'and having a punturable end wall 5.

In accordance with the present invention there Y is provided-a holder orcontainer 6 adapted to receive the cartridge 211i the position shown,and preferably knurled circumferentially over a por tion of its length,as shown-in Figure 3, for enabling a durable and air-tight Jolntto bemade ing element l2 out of contact with the puncturable-wall 5 of thecartridge 2 and to-normally with the wall of the vest at the point'wherethe container 6 is inserted through the wall of the vest. The exactmanner in which the container 6 is inserted into and secured to the wallof the vest need not be here described, as it iorms no part of thepresent invention, being now a standard practice in this art. It should,however, be noted that the container 6 is provided with openings I forcommunicating with the inflatable chamber of the vest, and it willaccordingly be 10 understood that the container 6 must be assembled intothe vest in a manner to leave the openings 1 uncovered by the wall ofthe vest. Coupled to the container 6, by means of a screw-threadedengagement, and serving al a 5 closure for the open end of thecontainer, is a chambered body member 8. In order to provide a gas-tightrelationship between the container 6 and the body member 8, there isprovided a gasket 9 which is compressed between a shoulder in of themember 8 and the end of the container 6. Mounted within the chamber ofthe body member 8 is a. spindle ll, carrying a pointed puncturingelement l2 positioned adjacent but spaced from the 'puncturable wall 5of the carbridge 2, the spindle H extending exteriorly of the member 8for a purpose to be described. Encompassing the opening in the wall oi.the member 8, through which the spindle ll extends exteriorly of themember 8, is a valve seat I3, which is'adapted to cooperate with a valvecomprising a flanged member l4 formed on the spindle II and carrying avalve seating material 15.

Assembled within one end of the chamber of the member 8, by means of ascrew-threaded en- 35 gagement, is a bushing 16 provided with a flange Hfor securing the gasket 9 against the shoulder Ill of the member 8, sothat the gasket 9 is always available for effecting a gas-tight jointbetween a the member 8 and the container 6. The bushing I6 is alsoprovided witha central bore l8 serving as a guide for the spindle II,and is recessed, as at IQ, for receiving a coiled spring 20, which isdesigned. to bear against the flanged member I, serving both to normallymaintain the puncturmaintain a gas-tight relationship between the valveseat I! and the valve seating material Ii.

The bushing I8 is also provided with a projecting sleeve portion 25following closely the contour of the necked end i of the cartridge 2 andserving to prevent coupling of the member I to the container 6 in theevent that the cartridge 2 is incorrectly inserted in the container 0with the u l in the wrong position.

end of the container 6 instead of adjacent the closed end thereof. Thebushing I6 is shown with a diametrically disposed slot 2! for receivinga tool to assemble it to the member 8 and serving also as a passage forthe contents discharged from the cartridge.

As an additional safeguard against coupling of the member 8 to thecontainer 8 when the cartridge 2 is incorrectly inserted in thecontainer, the screw-threads normally formed on the con- I tainer 6 areremoved, as shown at 22, for a sumpermitting the puncturing element IIto be with cient distance to prevent engagement of the screw-threads onthe container 6 with the screwthreads on the member 8 when the cartridge2 is Mounted upon the exterior of the body member 8 is a sleeve member23 provided with lugs 24 carrying a pin 25, on which is'pivotallymounted a lever 26 having any suitable cam-like surface 21 for engagingthe outer end of the spindle ll, upon rotation of the lever", forforcingthe puncturing element I 2 through the frangible wall of thecartridge. so as to release the contents thereof into the container 6for introduction into the chamber of the .vest through the openings 1,in which connection it is to be understood that the cartridge 2 does notflt tightly within the container 6, but that there is suflicient spacebetween them for permitting the contents of the cartridge to reach theopenings I. By designing the lever 26 of the shape shown and byproviding an operating cord 28 and an operating handle 29 for operatingthe lever by pulling the operating handle in a direction substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 8, the cam-likesurface 21 will override its highest point 30, thus drawn from theopening made in the puncturable wall of the cartridge, under theinfluence of the coiledspringlll, the latter at the same time effectinga gas-tight relationship between the valve seat l3 andthe valve seatingmaterial 15, thus preventing escape of the contents of the cartridgepast the spindle ll.

In order to prevent leakage of the contents of the cartridge past thespindle duringthe relatively short period when the valve is unseated, aclose-working fit is provided between the spindle II and the wall of themember I at the point where the spindle passes through the wall.

In order to permit the lever 26 to be operated from any one of aplurality of circumferential positions, the sleeve member 23 is mountedon the member 8 in such a manner as to be freely rotatable thereon, thedesired freedom of rotation being accomplished in the construction-shownby receiving 'the'flange 3| of the. sleeve-member 23 within a bored outportion of the member I and turning over a'portion of the metal of themember 8' to hold the flange ll against longitudinal movement, while atthe same time permitting it to rotate freely.

- From the foregoing description it will be seen' that I have provided anew and useful structure adapted primarily for use with inflatablelifepreservers and carrying'out the objects set forth at the beginning.However, while the invention has been'described with reference to onespecific form of construction, it will be readily understood 'that theinvention is capable of embodiment in other forms of construction forthe same or different uses, and I accordingly do not wish my inventionto be limited save as deflnedin the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A compressed gas cartridge unit for a removg able metalliccompressed gas cartridge of the type having a puncturable metallic wall,comprising a container for the cartridge closed at one end and open atthe other end and having a passage in the wall of the containerestablishing communication with the exterior thereof and arranged toreceive the removable compressed gas cartridge with its puncturable wallpositioned adiacent the open end of the container, a chambered bodymember engaging the open end of the container and constituting a closuretherefor, the puncturable wall or the compressed gas cartridge beingarranged on a necked-in portion of the cartridge, means to preventassembly of the chambered body memberand the container when thecartridge is incorrectly arranged with the puncturable-wall thereofopposite to the open end of able metallic compressed gas cartridge'ofthe type at having a pu'ncturable metallic wall, comprising a containerfor the cartridge closed atone end and open at the other end and havinga passage in the wall of the container establishing communication withthe exterior thereof and ar- 35 ranged to receive the removablecompressed. gas cartridge with its puncturable wall positioned adjacentthe open end of the container, 9. chambered body member for closing theopen end of the container, means for coupling the chambered body memberto the container, the puncturable'wall ofthe compressed gas cartridgebeing arranged on .a necked-in'portion of. the cartridge, means toprevent initial engagement of thejmeans to couple the. chambered bodymemberto the container when the cartridge is incorrectly arranged withthe puncturable wall thereof opposite to the open end of the container;and a movable puncturing member mounted in the chamber of the bodymember and adapted to puncture the puncturable wall of the-compressedgas cartridge.

3. A compressed gas cartridge unit for a removable metallic compressedgas cartrldge of the type having a puncturable metallic wall, comprisinga container-for the cartridge closed at one end and open at the otherend and having a passage in the wall of the container establishingcommunication with the exterior thereof and arranged to receive theremovable compressed gas cartridge with its puncturable wall so tainer,the puncturable wall of thecompressed 05 gas cartridge being arranged ona necked-in portion of the cartridge, a sleeve on said chambered bodymember adapted to closely encompass the necked-in portion of thecartridge, when the latter is correctly positioned in the con tainer,said sleeve serving to engage the end of the cartridge when the latteris incorrectly wsitioned in the container and to so space the chamberedbody member and the container as to prevent initial engagement of themeans: in It couple the h mbered body member to the container. and amovable Jpuncturing member mounted in a chamber-oi the body member andadapted topuncture the puncturable wall of the compressed gas-cartridge.a v

4. A compresesd gas cartridge unit for aremovable metallic compressedgas cartridge of the type having a puncturable metallic wall, comprisinga container for the cartridge closed at oneend andopen at the other endand having a e in thewalloi the container estab lishingcommunicationwith theexterior thereoifand arranged to receive the removablecompressed gas cartridge with its puncturable wall positionedadiacenttheopen end 01' the container, a chambered body member, for closing theopen end or the container, means ior coupling the chambered body memberto the container, the puncturable wall of the compressed gas cartridgebeing arranged on'a necked-in portion of the cartridge a sleeve on. saidchambered body member adapted to closely encompass the necked-in portionthe cartridge when the latter is correctly positioned in the cmtainer,said coupling means being proportione'dto prevent initial engagementthereof when the cartridge is incorrectly positioned in the containerand-the sleeve engages the end thereof, and a movable puncturing membermountedin the chamber of .thebody member and-adapted to puncture thepuncturable wall of the compressed gas cartridge; 5. A compressed gascartridge unit for a removable metallic compressed gas cartridge of thetype having a puncturable metallic wall arranged on a necked-in portion0! the cartridge;

comprising a container lot the cartridge formed 4 oi at leastltwo partsand having; a passage in a wall of at least one of -thepartsestablishing communication with the exterior of the con--' tainer. meanstot-couple and uncouple the parts of said container at will. wherebysaid parts may be uncoupled :to enable the removable comp essed gascartridge .to be inserted in the con-- tainer. a mcvable puncturingmember mounted in one part of the container and adapted to puncture thepuncturable wall of the com-.

pressed gascartridge when the latter is correctly arranged in thecontainer with its puncturable wall directed toward .the movablepuncturing member, and means to prevent assembly of the parts of thecontainer when the cartridge is incorrectly arranged in the containerwith the puncturable wall thereof directed away-tromthemovablepuncturing ."member, said last named means comprising a restrictedportion of the part of the container mounting. the movable puncturingmember adapted to closely encompass the necked-in portion of the;cartridge cartridge is reversely positioned, t 8 A compressed gascartridge unit=ior a reand to prevent the aforesaid assembly when themovable metalliccompressed gas cartridge oi the type having apuncturable metallic wall arranged' on a necked-in portion oi"thecartridge,

comprising a container for the cartridge iorr'r'ied of at least twoparts and-having a passage in a wall of: at leaston'e oi theestablishing communicaticniwitn'the exterior of the container. meanstocou pleand uncouple the parts oi said container at willrwhereby saidparts may be uncoupled to enable the removable com-. pressed gascartridge to be'inserted inthe con s m a a tainer, a movable puncturingmember moun movable metallic compressed in one part or the container andadapted to puncture the puncturable wall 01' the compressed gascartridge when the latter is cor-.- rectly arranged in the containerwith its punc- 5 -'turable wall directed toward the movable puncturingmember, and means to prevent initial engagement of the means to couplethe parts of i the container when the cartridge is incorrectly arrangedin the container with the puncturable wall thereoi' directed away fromthe movable puncturing member. 5814 last named means comprising arestricted portion of the part oi the container mounting the movablepuncturing member-adapted to cooperate with the cartridge to preventcoupling of said parts when the.

cartridge is reversely positioned in the con-.

tainer. t '7.- A compressed gas, cartridge unit for a re- -movablemetallic compressed gas cartridge 01 go the" type-having a puncturablemetallic wall ar'-' ranged on a necked-in portion oi the cartridge,comprising a container for the cartridge'tormed oi at least two parts apassage in a wall'oi at least one of thepartr bushing communicationwithfthe exterior of the con-" tainer. means to coupleand uncouple theparts oi said container at will. whereby said partsmsy be uncoupled toenable the removable com-,- pressed gas cartridge to be inserted in thecontamer, a movable puncturing member mounted in one part of thecontainer and to puncture the puncturable wall oi the conrpressedj gascartridge when the latter is correctly arranged in the container withits puncturable ssl walldirected toward the movable puncturingmember,-and a sleeve on the part 01'- the.

tainer mounting the movable puncturing member adapted to cooperate 1with the oartri se when the latter is incorrectly positioned in'thecontainer and to so space the parts oi the 0011',- taineras to preventinitial engagement oi the means to couple the parts of the container; fi

8 A compressed gas cartridge unit for a rethe type having a puncturablemetallic wall n arranged on 'a necked-in portion or the car-:.-- tridge,comprising a container for the cartridge formed oi at least two partsand having a passage. in awall 01 at least one 01' the partses- 5otablishing communication with the exterior of, the container, means tocouple and uncouple the, parts, oi said. container at will, whereby'said parts may be1uncoupled to enable the remcv-'- able compressed gascartridge to be inserted.'in-' the container, a movable puncturing,member mounted inone part of the container. and

' adapted to puncture the puncturable waliot the compressed. gascartridge when the" latter is correctly arranged in the containerwith-its w puncturable wall directed toward the movable puncturingmember, and a sleeve on the partoi the containermounting the movablepunc-- 4 turing member adapted to cooperate withthe cartridge when thelatter is incorrectly IN-L tioned in the container, said couplingmeansbeing proportioned to prevent lnitiahengagement thereoi when thecartridge is incorrectly pcsitioned in the container and thesleevecooperates with. the end thereof opposite to the end having' a thepuncturable in n HINRYERNIST EEIGIB gas cartridgeot

